Alexander scott



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. SCOTT-J WEATHER BOARD HOLDER. No. 358,699.. Patented Mar, 1, 1887.

N PETERS PholwLnho m her. Washington, D. c.

(N0 Modem 2 sheets sheet 2' A. SCOTT.

WEATHER BOARD HOLDER. No. 358,699. Patented Mar. 1,1887.

ALEXANDER SCOTT, OF RUSHVILLE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ALBERT B. LAIVLER, OF SAME PLACE.

WEATHER BOARD HOLDER.

QP C C forming part of Letters Patent No. 358,699, dated March 1, 188'3.

Application filed May 27, 1886. Serial No. 203,407. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER Soon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rushville, in the county of Schuyler and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VVeather-Board Holders; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention consists in improved weatherboard holders, gages, and markers by the use of which a great increase in rapidity and accuracy is obtained in securing weather-boards t0 the sides of buildings, and which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view showing myinvention applied in its operative position. Fig. 2 is a rear end view of the same detached from the weather-boards. Fig. 3 is an elevation taken from the inner side of the holder and gage. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of themarking-knife and the frame in which it slides. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional View of the same. Fig. 6 is an end View of the lower end of the base-block with the guard-plate removed, and Fig. 7 is a perspective detail view of the marking-knife.

The same letters of reference'indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

In carrying out my invention I employ a base-piece, which is provided with a fastener bywhich it can be secured on the weatherboarding in proper position. The fastener may be a screw; but I prefer the particular device hereinafter described. To the basepiece I secure a vertical stem, so as to form a T or L shaped square. I prefer the T shape. The stem of this square is so attached to the base that it can be vertically adjusted to adapt it to boards of different widths. If the boards were all of the same width, the stem should be rigidly attached to the base-piece. To the upper end of the stem or vertical part of the square I pivot a marker-arm, which may be turned to either side of said stem. It is pivoted chiefly so that its outer end can be moved vertically to make a mark across the end of the'board at the point where the latter is to be cut off. It is made reversible from one side of the square to the other side, so that it can be used to mark either end of the board. On the outer end of the markerarm I secure a scriber, by which the board is marked.

Referring to the several parts by letter, A indicates the studdings, against which the weatherboards B are to be secured, the two lower boards in Fig. 1 of the drawings being secured thereto, while the upper board in the same view is being held in position by my improved holder and gage. This holder and gage consists of the base-block, O, the under side of which is formed with the bevel-groove C, in which fits and slides adjustably the lower beveled end, D, of an adjusting-piece, D, the said beveled end being formed with a vertical slot, B", through which passes a thumb screw, E, the lower end of which turns in the base-block (J, and by tightening this screw the sliding block D is tightly secured in its operative position. The upper edge of the base-block is made perfectly straight, and in the inner side of the said block is secured and turns the upper portion of the locking-lever F, the lower end of this lever being provided with a handle, F, the horizontal portion F of which is covered by a guard-plate, G, and moves in a V shaped recess, H, in the lower edge of the base-plate, while the upper end of the locking lever is formed oval in cross-section, and the edges thus formed are provided with the teeth or serrations F, the object of which. will be hereinafter described.

The upper end of the adjusting-block D is exactly parallel with the upper edge of the base-block, and is provided with the spring clamp I, the upper end, 1, of which is curved somewhat outward, as shown, and upon the body portion of the clamp is pivoted a recessed block, J, in the lower recessed face of which slides the inner slotted end of a markerarm, K, which is formed of two pieces hinged together in the center, as shown, and to the outer end of this hinged arm is pivoted the marking-frame L, which is formed with the longitudinal slot L and the bevel guide-pieces L, secured upon its outer side, and between.

these beveled guide-pieces slides the beveled ICO guide-block M of the marking-knife or scriber, the blade or point N of which is formed with the shoulder N ,which bears against the lower I face of the block M, as clearly shown in the detail view, Fig. 7, of the drawings,while the coiled spring, 0, encircles this tang between the washer placed on the upper side of the block and the lower enlarged end of the handle.l l of the knife, so as to keep the lower cutting-edge of the knife-blade always flush with the lower side of the slotted markingframe L, (the said blade extending and sliding in the longitudinal slot L,) except when the handle of the knife is forced down by the carpenter for the purpose of marking the weatherboard.

The manner in which my improved weatherboard holder and gage is used is as follows: The sliding block D having been adjusted in the base-block so as to regulate the extent to which the weather-board is to lap over the one next below it, the handle of the lockinglever is turned to the right, so as to cause the oval upper end of this lever to lie iiat and permit it to be readily introduced beneath the lower edge of the weather-board last nailed on until the straight upper edge of the base-block bears firmly against the lower edge of the said board when the handle of thelever is turned far to the left, thereby turning the upper end of the locking-lever so that its serrated edges will bite into the inner surface of the lower portion of the weather-board beneath which it is inserted, and also into the upper surface of the board on which the base-block is resting, beneath the upper weather board, thereby locking the device firmly and tightly in its operative position. The next board to be applied is then placed with its lower edge resting upon the upper straight end of the adj usting-block D, and in order to place the board in this position it is necessary to slip it beneath the spring-clamp l, which then holds the board firmly in position upon the upper end of the adjusting-block, thelocking device of the base-block being sufficient to support five times the weight of a weather-board. The outwardly-turned upper end of this springclamp admits of the board being readily inserted beneath it. The board being thus adjusted and held with great accuracy in the proper position to be nailed to the siding, the marking-frame Lis swung around to theproper point, when, by pressing down upon the handle of the marking-knife and drawing the same along the slot ofthe frame L, the board is clearly and accurately marked at the precise point Where it is to be sawed, and as the marking-frame is pivoted to the outer end of the hinged arm K it may be turned and adjusted so as to cut the end of the board at any required slope or angle, as will be readily understood. When the end of the board has been.

marked in this swift'and convenient manner, the hinged arm K is folded back out of the way, when the end of the board may be at once sawed off. The inner end of the said arm being slotted, permits of the marking-frame. being drawn in or out for adjustment, while as the said end is pivotally secured, as described, it will be seen that the marking-frame can be swung around to either side of the holder, as required.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, operation, and advantages of my improved weather-board holder and gage will be readily understood. It is strong and simple in constructiop and can be easily and cheaply manufactured, while by its use a great saving in time is effected and the utmost accuracy is insured, which is a very important point. The marking-frame is provided with the guide-lugs L on its under side, which fit against the studding and enable the frame to be adjusted with great accuracy.

The use of my invention dispenses with the use of a number of separate tools, which must be taken up and returned separately to the scaffold, thus consuming a considerable amount of time, while it also dispenses with the necessity of driving a nail partly into the board below for the board being applied to rest upon, and the subsequent withdrawal of this nail and the filling of the nail-hole so formed with putty. Two of my holders and gages are usually sufficient in putting up weather-boards.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The combination, with the base-block having the straight upper edge, the beveled recess in its under side, and the locking-lever having the flattened upper operative end provided with the serrated edges, of the adj usting-block formed with the beveled lower end having the longitudinal slot, the straight upper end, and the spring-clamp secured to its upper end, as described, and the set-screw securing the said sliding block in its adjusted position, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the base-block having the straight upper edge, the beveled recess in its under side, and the locking-lever having the flattened upper end formed with the serrated edges, the adj usting'block formed with the straight upper edge, the beveled slotted lower portion, and the spring-clamp secured to its upper edge and having the outwardly-turned upper end, the set-screw securing the adjusting-block in its adj ustedposition, the hinged arm having, the slotted rear end pivotally secured upon the said springclamp, the marking-frame pivotally secured to the outer end of the hinged arm and having the longitudinal slot, and the markingknife arranged to slide in the said slot, as described.

3. The combination, with the adjustable marking-frame having the longitudinal slot, the recessed guide-pieces, and the guide-lugs on its inner face, of the marking-knife con sisting of the blade formed with the shoulders, and the circular tang extending through the apertured beveled guide-frame and the enlarged handle, and the coiled spring arranged, as described, around the said knife-tang, substantially as described.

4. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a T or L. shaped support or holder, a fastener for securing the support or holder to the weather-boarding, a marker-arm pivoted to the vertical stem of the support, and a scriber attached to the free end of the markerarm, substantially as described.

5. The combination, as hereinbefore set forth, of a T or L shaped support or holder, a fastener for securing the support in position, 

